Ventilation system working worse than normal?

I just did my 40,000 mile A/C filter check and found a mouse nest on top
of my filter! I thought the ventilation had been even worse lately than
normal (as many of you here know, I haven't been impressed with the
Sonata HVAC system even when it was brand new). I won't post pictures
here since this isn't a binaries group, but if anyone wants to see what
a mouse nest on your A/C filter looks like, drop me an email.

The mice had chewed the top off of several of the filter pleats, but
fortunately not enough to let debris through the filter. Some did drop
into the blower as I removed the filter, but I got most of that fished
and vacuumed out. What a mess.

Matt

 

What does not impress you? Mine keeps me cool when it is 105 outside and
warms me when it is below 0. I keep the thermostat on 72 in summer, 70 in
winter. No mice so far but I do have to change the cabin filter.

 

Where I live the temperature never higher than 95 but the cooling while
adequate (AC left on max long enough, the air becomes stale when is
recycled) is nowhere as good as the one on my Camry.

 

Then don't leave it on max. I never do and it cools well enough.

 

Judging from the extreme temperature I assume you live in Tx or Az where the
air is dry. Here in NW when is humid and 80 I feel like dying. That's when
the air is not cool enough.
I took a peek at your IP, CT? 105? Really?

 

Really, but not very often. We get at most one or three days a year that
tops 100. We get maybe a dozen that top 90.

 

Mine keeps me cool at 85 and is marginal above 90. My 1994 Chevy K1500
impresses me as does my 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan. Both work much better
than the Sonata.

The Sonata will not keep the windshield fully defrosted with more than
two people in the car. My truck and van will easily handle a full load
of passengers (5 in the truck, 7 in the van) and still keep ALL windows
clear. The Sonata won't keep the windshield clear (the top 3-4" stays
fog covered in many conditions), and the side and rear windows are
completely hopeless.

The Sonata heater is marginal below 20F and terrible below zero. Again,
my Chevy truck will toast you toes at -20F and the van is nearly as
good, but then it has two heaters and AC units.

I guess most folks, including the Hyundai dealer, don't take the "change
every 10,000 miles" AC filter maintenance schedule seriously. I stopped
in today to buy a filter (mine has 40K miles, but has been fine until
the mice) and the dealer doesn't even stock them! I had to order one,
pay in advance and wait until Thursday to get it. Ridiculous.

Matt

 

I've never driven a Camry, but the only vehicle I've owned that had a
worse HVAC system was a VW Beetle (the original version, not the New
Beetle). Every American car I've owned since the early 1970s has had a
more effective heater and the one's I've owned which had AC, had a more
effective AC system.

This even includes such gems as a 1976 Dodge Ram pickup, a 1977 Ford
Granada and even my 1979 Chevy Chevette put the Sonata to shame in the
HVAC department, but certainly not in other areas!

Matt

 

Not my experience at all. I have to wonder if you have a leak in a diverter
or something. I took my Buick to work today for the first time in a month.
I was unpleasantly surprised at how much longer it took to cool down and it
was only 85 today. Not to mention that the blower is on high longer and
louder than my Sonata. I doubt that the Limited would have a different
compressor/coil compared to yours

I also can tell the difference between the two cars just sitting in the sun.
The Buick is dark green and gets hotter than the light silver blue of the
Sonata.

 

We have a lot in common in our vehicles, as you know Matt. For the rest of
you - Matt and I each own nearly identical trucks, and somewhat identical
Sontatas. I agree that my K1500 can chill the nuts off a hearty eskimo
under normal conditions, but alas, it's currently suffering from the classic
GM seal leaks in the front of the compressor. Sigh... My Sonata though
(2006) has never let me down in the AC department. It flat out cools.

Eat my dust Matt - it's just the two of us in the car now. Kids are all
gone and it's a rare day when there are more than just my wife and I in the
car. Never did notice any fogging problems when we have have 3 or 4 people
in the car though.

Man Matt - get your car fixed. Mine has all kinds of heating. GM style
heating. I never lack for heat. In fact it's far superior to the heater in
my last car - an 03 Grand Am. One thing I would never complain about in
this car is the heater.

 

Nothing was ever found, but I certainly can't rule out some undetected
defect. I just know that the HVAC is much less effective than most
other vehicles I have owned.

Matt

 

True and will also nearly roast your chestnuts in the winter even
without an open fire! How many miles on your truck now? Mine just went
past 105K and no leaks yet.

Rub it in, rub it in...

What engine do you have in your Sonata? I'm wondering if this is a V-6
vs. 4 cylinder issue as I think I'm one of the few here who have the I4.

Matt

 

My truck has about 130K mi on it now. The AC has required an annual topping
off for the past few years, and this year it seems to have gotten worse.
I'm overhauling the body this fall and may take the compressor out and put
new seals in the front of it while I have the front clip off. Then again...
I may not get to that this year.

Well, now that you mention it Matt - that rubbing thing has long been known
to contribute to window fogging - in any car!

I have the 3.3 in my Sonata. You may be right that it could be an engine
thing.

 

Knock on wood ... my AC has worked flawlessly for 15 years and 105K
miles now. My truck really has been very reliable as the commercials
used to say "like a rock."

I had one significant failure during the warranty (@5,200 miles) when a
ball came off of a push rod causing it to weld itself to the rocker arm.
Lost some power and clattered like you wouldn't believe. I was almost
at work so I drove to work and called the dealer assuming they would
want to tow it in to minimize collateral damage. The service manager
asked me if I thought I could drive it in (about 30 miles) and I said I
had no idea, but would give it a shot if that was their recommendation.
He said give it a try and they'd send a tow truck if I didn't make it.
The truck made it just fine and they repaired the engine and it has
run flawlessly ever since. I don't think I've replaced anything on the
engine. I'd have to check my log book, but I believe everything other
than consumables (filters, plugs) is original - starter, water pump, AC,
alternator, all have not been touched. This truck just seems to keep on
trucking, but it is now starting to show rust behind the doors and also
behind the rear wheels. However, after 14 winters driving in PA and NY
winters and road salt, I can't feel bad at all about that.

Matt

 

Both of my front fenders have bit the dust, my front inner fenders, my lower
door skins, my cab corners and the wheel wells on the box. I've purchased
new doors, new fenders, new inner fenders, new cab corners and new wheel
arches for the box. Can't seem to get the time to start putting them on
though. As you know, I'm up in Central NY and with the amount of salt used
on the roads in NY, this is to be expected of a 1994 vehicle. The cab
itself is solid - solid floors, rockers, etc. So far I have about $700 tied
up in body parts plus some miscellaneous body work tools and supplies to
rebuild the body. By the time I buy paint and whatever remaining
miscellaneous items, I should come in well under $2K for the job.

I looked hard at new trucks since the price has been so attractive on them.
Just could not bring myself to dump $18-20K on a truck when I can put .$2K
into this one. The truck mainly plows snow now, weekly trips to the dump,
an occasional highway trip to Philly or to Albany, some local hauling
(lumber and the likes), and just does not warrant replacing the truck for
that kind of use. It really sits more than it's driven. I realize that
I'll be fixing things on it on a fairly regular basis, but... oh well.